William Woodrow Wilson (Bill) was born on December 2, 1922, to Orvil and Marion Wilson in Ft. Worth, Texas, the fifth child of the family of two boys and two girls. Our father died in 1925. Being a Mason enabled the girls to enter the Masonic home and school in Ft. Worth in 1924 and me on December 12, 1926. This was the best thing that could have happened to us. We were there during the Great Depression; and being there, we received three meals a day, were clothed, and received an excellent education. (he was a member of the legendary Mighty Mite football team during the late 30’s and early 40’s) Graduated in 1942; declined a scholarship to the University of Texas in Austin, and signed up for Naval Aviation. Completed course at Hensley, due for Pensacola, but failed to obey rules and regulations, (The plane he was flying buzzed the private boat of a naval commander on Lake Worth. He thought it was fun; the commander, however, did not, signed up for the U.S. Marine Corps. After Boot Camp at San Diego, was stationed at Norman, Oklahoma. That was not too far from Ft. Worth and rekindled a lasting relationship with Pauline (Polly) Bower, who became his wife on July 18, 1943. Bill’s earthly life ended on October 1, 2009, at Mainland Medical Center. He is survived by his wife of 66 years, Pauline; his daughter Patricia; his grandson Roy Wesley Wilson, and Ashley Thomas, Roy’s long term partner whom he considered a granddaughter; his golden retriever whom he loved to walk and various family and friends. He is preceded in death by his son, Ronald Alan Wilson who departed this life on October 1, 1999, his parents and all his siblings. During World War II, he served the United States Marine Air Corp on B25 Base on Emirau Island in the Pacific. He was a member of the original VMB 433 Air Squadron. He was a Tail Gunner on 64 successful missions. He was awarded four citations for service in the South Pacific and a Presidential Citation. He retired from Warrior-Zapata Construction in 1987. He was a construction superintendent and was responsible for the construction of many of multi-million dollar buildings in Houston. His job took him and his family from Ft. Worth to Lake Charles, Beaumont, and then Texas City. One of his first jobs after moving to Texas City was the construction of Galveston County Memorial Hospital, which became Mainland Medical Center. While living in Texas City, he also worked in Arkansas, Tennessee, and the Reservation in Livingston, Texas. After his retirement, he and his wife traveled through most of the United States, attended VMB 433 Reunions in various states, and attended to his vegetable garden whose produce he was willing to share with friends. He was seen most days walking his Brittany and then his Golden. He was always on the go despite his severe asthma.
In lieu of flowers, his family request donations be made to First Baptist Church of Texas City, (1400 9th Ave. N) or Golden Beginnings Golden Retriever Rescue (P.O. Box 19848, Houston, TX 77224).
His family wishes to thank the wonderful, caring ICU nurses at Mainland Medical Center and the doctors that gave him great care. Their out pouring of concern and love for us made this transition much easier. After burial at Forest Park East in Webster, there will be a memorial service in the chapel of First Baptist Church in Texas City at 1:30 p.m. on Tuesday, October 6, 2009.
